Vanity case



Feb. ze, 1924. 1,485,172

B. B. DOWELL VANITY CASE Filed March SO`I 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Af u Feb. 26 1924.

B. B. DOWELL VANITY CASE 50, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March S' l .v l

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Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

UNirED BENJAMIN B. DOWELI, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

VANITY CASE.

Application led March 30, 1923. Serial No. 628,865.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B. DOW- ELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vanity Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which `it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to toilet kits, and more particularly to a combined vanity case and purse for ladies.

The object of my invention is to provide an attractive, durable and handy device of the character referred to, which will be compact, highly useful and simple in construc tion. Convenience of arrangement, lighty ness, and comparative inexpense of manufacture are further desiderata which have been borne in mind in the production and development of my invention.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and then pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In said drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the case when closed;

Fig. 2 is a side or edge elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View similar to Fig. 1, the exterior cover or lid on the near side of the case being shown in raised position and the suspension strap omitted;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 withthe cover closed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view similar to Fig. 3, looking at the opposite side of the case, the exterior lid thereof being shown in raised position, the coverplates for the individual compartments therein being opened to reveal the interior construction and arrangement; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, the exterior lid and interior cover-plates being closed and the various parts in place.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, 7 and 8, respectively, denote identical, but oppositely related, exterior facesv or angled frames of t-he vanity case which are preferably of oblong, polygonal form, hinged together at their lower ends and adapted to spread apart in V-shape under the tension'of a small helical spring provided on connecting hinge 9. These frames are preferably constructed of metal, such as silver, gold or aluminum, and may, if desired, be faced with leather or cloth togive the appearance of an all leather or cloth case.

Snap catch means 10, actuated by an rdinary leaf spring, is provided within the top meeting edges of the opposed frames and adapted to firmly catch and hold the two sections normally together, said edges being thus secured in close contact to practically seal the joint.

Small'rigid staples or eyes 11 are provided in the top portions of the frames for the attachment of a suspension chain or strap 12.

An oblong opening of the same contour as the frame is formed in the outer faces of angled frames 7 and 8, respectively, and the edges of the metal surrounding said openings may be inwardly inclined or beveled to give a finished marginal appearance as at 7' and 8a.

A metallic cover or lid 13 is provided to overlie and close the opening in each frame, said lids being hinged to the respective frames at their upper. ends, a small helical spring 14 being provided on each hinge to tensionally move and hold the lids in raised position when released. A mirror 15 is secured on the inner face or side of each hinged lid, preferably by means of marginal flanges overlapping the beveled edges of the mirrors, which, when the lids are closed, fit snugly within the shallow recessesr or spaces formed by the depressed or beveled edges surrounding the polygonal openings in the respective frames, as more clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6. l

A sna catch means 16 of ordinary design, actuate by an ordinary leaf-spring, or other suitable means, -is provided -at the lower end of each frame, to firmly catch and hold the lids 13 normally closed, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Opposed filling members onback plates 17 and 18, of the same contour as the exterior frames and preferably formed of light metal or metal alloy such as aluminum, are respectively contained or fitted within the angled faces or frames 7 and 8, said back plates combining with said frames to provide rigid encasing sections.

Substantially triangular sections or portions of leather or cloth 19 are utilized to close the gaps at either side between these encasing sections. The margins or edges of these leather or cloth portions are extended over or around the edges of the back plates 17 and 18 and clamped between the same and their respective exterior angled frames 7 and 8; small concealed screws 20 or other fastening means inserted through the leather or cloth being employed to unite these plates .with their respective exterior frames, as

clearly illustrated in Fig. Ll. The margins of the leather may, if desired, be glue-coated to cause the leather or cloth to adhere to the metal between which its edges lie. These leather or cloth sections 19 are pleated or gathered to adapt them to spread when the case is opened and to fold neatly between the opposing sections when the case is closed and fastened.

An interior pocket 21 adapted to hold a small change purse 22, is conveniently provided on the inner side of one of the back plates of the case.

Recesses or cavities are formed in thetouter faces of plates 17 and 18, to provide individual chambers or compartments for various emergency toilet articles.

A small rigid lid or cover conforming to the shape of the recess which it overlies, is provided for each compartment, narrow marginal ledges being formed in the metal surrounding each recess tb permit the lids to rest therein with their outer surfaces flush with the surface of the metal plates, and each lid is preferably engraved or labeled With the name of the toilet article contained thereunder as indicated in Fig. 3. v

These lids are adapted to swing outwardly on small concealed hinges provided prefer'- ably at their lower edges, and small lips are conveniently formed thereon under which. the finger-nail may be placed to easily open the lids.

In the construction shown, each plate is formed with three recesses for the purpose stated, the lowermost recesses in each being circular, one of them being designed and adapted to'retain a cake of face powder and theother to retain a cake of rouge.

The plate 17 is further designed to contain a package of needles 23 and a small spool of thread 24 revclubly fitted in the topmost re= cess, and an ordinary lip-stick 25 in the intermediate recess, while plate 18 is further designed to contain an ordinary eyebrow pencil 26 in the narrow left hand recess and a small pair of manicure scissors 27 in the larger, right hand recess, a bifurcated spring clip 28 being secured in the bottom or back wall of the last mentioned recess, to clamp the scissors securely in place.

The circular openings in plates 17 and 18, respectively, are designed to permit ready removal -and replacement of the rouge or powder cakes, and as the construction and arrangement of associated parts in the circular recesses are identical in the two plates, further description of the same will be made with reference to plate 18, as shown in Fig. 5, it being understood that the arrangement dpscribed is essentially duplicated in plate 1 A cake of powder or rouge 29 is placed loosely within the circular opening 30, the latter being interiorly threaded to receive an exteriorly threaded metallic ring 31, the inside diameter of the latter being somewhat less than the diameter of the cake 29. Ther the ring 31 is screwed into place, the inner circumferential edge thereof will bear light ly against the circumferential margin of the cake 29 and hold the latter in place while the ring may be easily unscrewed and removed when it is desired to renew the cake.

rlhe hinged lid 32 is formed with a circumferential nflange 33 on its inner`- side to provide a shallow cup-like recess to receive and retain a rouge or powder puff 34, and prevent the latter from dropping out of place when the lid is drawn open.

The novelty, utility, convenience of arrangement, and manipulation, distinctive features and advantages of my combination vanity case and purse will readily appear from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and also its adaptability to contain the articles conned therein without liability of any article dropping out when either o1' both of the hinged lids or covers are thrown open.

Instead of two casing members hinged together at their lower ends, it may be desirable in some cases to use a single individual member of the construction shown, modified to the extentof providing a suitable backing or opposite side plate therefor, or by combining in a single unitary structure toilet articleI retaining recesses on both sides and U5 hinged lids or covers therefor, such as shown for the two hinged members.

I also desire it to be understood that the expression coin receiver, as used in the appended claims, is intended to cover and include any suitable receptacle for coin or currency arranged between the hinged casing members, such as a small pocket book, for example.

It will be understood of course that various changes may be made in the details and arrangement of parts, and in the toilet articles enclosed within the case, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I therefore do not desire to be Lasciare limited to the specific ,construction and arrangement shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l1. A vanity case comprising a plurality of casing members hinged together at one end and having cover-plates hinged thereto at the other end thereof; said casing members having recesses in their outer sides to) receive toilet articles, and said cover-plates overlying said recesses and concealing the articles contained therein,l said recesses occupying substantially the full dimensions of the casing members.

2. A vanity case comprising a plurality of casing members hinged together at one end and having cover-plates hinged thereto at the other end thereof, releasable means at the free ends of said casing members for securing them together, and releasable means for securin the free ends of said coverplates to said casing members; each of said casing members having a plurality of recesses in its outer side to receive toilet articles, and said cover-plates overlying said recesses and concealing the articles contained therein.

3. A vanity case comprising a plurality of casing members hin ed together at one end and having cover-p ates hinged thereto at the other end on their outer sides, said casing members having recesses in their outer sides to receive toilet articles, and said coverplates overlying said recesses and concealing` the articles contained therein the free ends of said casing members being arranged in close contact, and means for securing said free ends together and the free ends of said cover-plates to the casing members.

4. A vanity case comprising a plurality of casing members of oblong form hinged t0- gether at one end and tapering or gradually iminishing in width from a pointi near their hinged ends to the free ends thereof, and correspondingly shaped cover plates hinged to the free ends of said casing members on their outer sides; said casing members havin recesses in their outer sides, to receive toi et articles, and a coin receiver therebetween, and having releasable means thereon for securing their free ends together, and said cover-plates overlying said recesses and concealing the articles contained therein, and rovided with means for securing the 'free en s to said casing members. I

5. A vanity case com rising a plurality of casing members of o long angular fornil hinged together at one end and tapering or gradually diminishing in width lfrom the free ends thereof to a oint near their hinged ends, then `tapering a ruptly to said hinged ends, corres ondingly-shaped cover-plates hinged at their free ends to said casing memhers on the outer sides thereof, andlreleasable means for securin the free ends of said casing members toget ervand the free ends of said cover-plates to said casing members; said casing members having recesses in their outer sides to receive toilet articles, and a coin receiver between their inner walls, and said cover-plates overlying said recesses and concealing the articles contained therein.

6. A vanity case comprising casing members hingedly connected at one end and having recesses in the outer sides thereof, and cover-plates hingedly connected to said casing members at the other end thereof and overlying said recesses so as to conceal toilet articles therein when the cover-plates are closed; said cover-plates being approximately of the same dimensions as the casing members; and means for releasably securing the free ends of said casing members and cover-plates i'n closed position.A

7. A vanity case comprising a plurality of casing members hinged together at one end and having cover-plates hinged thereto at the other end thereof, flexible material connecting said casing members and adapted apart; said casing members having recesses 1n their outer sides to receive toilet articles, and said cover-plates overlying said recesses and concealing the articles contained therein, said recesses occupying substantially the full dimensions of the casin members.

8. In a vanity case, a caslng section having a plurality of recesses in one side thereof adapted to contain toilet articles, hinged lids overlaying each of said recesses and conforming to the 'shape thereof, a coverplate hinged to said casing section at one end thereof, releasable means for securing the free end of said lcover-plate to said casing section, and resilient means for moving and holding the cover-plate in raised position when released.

9. ln a vanity case, a plurality of casing sections hinged together so as to adapt them to be spread apart; said casing sections having recesses in their outer sides adapted to contain individual toilet articles, a hinged lid overlying each of said recesses with its outer top surface substantial] flush with the surface of the casing section and conforming in shape to the shape of the recess,an outer cover plate hinged to each of said casin sections ada ted to overlie and conceal sai lids, releasa le means for securing the free ends of said coverlates to their respective casing sections, an resilient means for independently moving and holding the respective cover-plates in raised position when their free ends are released.

10. A vanity case comprisin a plurality of rigid recessed plates, an ang ed frame encompassing the margins of each of said plates and secured thereto to form a plurality of unitary casing sections, said frames to close the gap between them when spread l being hinged together at their lower ends so as to adapt the upper ends of the sections to be spread apart, and lexible material connecting said casing sections so as to close the gap therebetween when the latter are s read apart; said material having its edges c amped between said plates and their respective frames.

11. A vanity case comprising a plurality of rigid plates, an angled frame encompassing thel margins of each of said plates and secured thereto to form a plurality of unitary casing sections,- said sections being hinged together so as to adapt them to be spread apart, flexible material connecting said casing sections so as to close the gap therebetween when the latter are spread apart, the margins of said flexible material being clamped between said plates and their respective frames; said plates having recesses in their outer sides adapted to contain individual toilet articles, and a hinged lid overlaping each of said recesses with its top surface substantially Hush with the surface of the plate and conforming in shape to the shape of the recesses therein, an outer cover-plate hin ed to each of said frames adapted to over ie and conceal the underlying plate, releasable means for securing the free ends of said cover-plates to their res ective frames, and resilient means for inependently holding the respective coverplates in raised position when their free ends are released.

12. A vanity case comprising a plurality of easing members hin ed together at one end and having cover-p ates hinged thereto at the other end thereof; said casing members having recesses in their outer sides to receive toilet articles, and said cover-plates each carrying a mirror on the inner side thereof and arranged to overlie and conceal the recesses in the vunderlying casing member, said recesses occupying substantially the full dimensions of the casing members.

13. A vanity case comprising a plurality of casing members hin ed together at one end and having cover-plates hinged thereto at the other end thereof, releasable means at the free ends of said casing members for securing them together, and releasable means for securing the free ends of said cover-plates to said casing members; each of said casing members being provided on its outer side with means for holding toilet articles, and each of said cover-plates havv ing a mirror on the inner side thereof and arranged to overlie and conceal the articles carried by the underlying casing member, and carrying means, such as a iexible strap, secured on the upper ends of said casing members.

ln testimon whereof. l aix my signature.

ENJAMIN B. DOWELL. 

